Portable workbenches?

[lsiberian]

Due to marriage I can no longer use my kitchen table for cutting, sawing, routing and other fun activities. I saw a Black and Decker Workmate thing at Lowe's the other day. Thought I'd pick your brains on it. We all know I can't continue to sleep at night while my next sub driver sits unused. I can trim down the ply on the ground if necessary, but I like the idea of having something I can do other stuff on while standing.

They aren't expensive and seem to get mostly good reviews. I'm checking craigslist and ebay for deals too.

 

[chris357]

i dont actually own one but i liek the idea of them and keep telling myself I am going to buy one one of these days. What I like is that they fold for storage and have a pretty functional clamp built into them to act as an extra set of hands for some projects.

I say go for it.

 

[CraigV]

I LOVE my workmate 550 - use it all the time. It’s 5 years old, been beat on, sawed on…everything you can imagine. Great tool - every man should have one

 

[highfigh]

Due to marriage I can no longer use my kitchen table for cutting, sawing, routing and other fun activities. I saw a Black and Decker Workmate thing at Lowe's the other day. Thought I'd pick your brains on it. We all know I can't continue to sleep at night while my next sub driver sits unused. I can trim down the ply on the ground if necessary, but I like the idea of having something I can do other stuff on while standing.

They aren't expensive and seem to get mostly good reviews. I'm checking craigslist and ebay for deals too.

Hit the rummage sales and look for a good, sturdy table. Otherwise, if you have a place that salvages building supplies, look for a flat solid core door and make a base for it. The wider, the better and it should be very stable.

 

[avaserfi]

My dad has a Workmate and I use it all the time. He got it for $40 at a B&D outlet on sale. Unlike most B&D products this is well constructed and quality. It folds up fairly small and is easy to pull out and use. A very good option for someone needing a portable table, I will probably get one for myself at some point.

 

[TLS Guy]

I have used a workmate for over 20 years and it has held up well.

 

[lsiberian]

This is great to hear. I'll be hitting up craigslist as I'm sure there's a great deal on one.

I hear getting them shipped is bad due to bad packaging. I don't have space for a door lol.

 

[avaserfi]

If you are ever around Hillsboro there is a B&D outlet, they typically have good prices. You could give them a call.

http://www.blackanddecker.com/Where-to-buy.aspx

 

[lsiberian]

If you are ever around Hillsboro there is a B&D outlet, they typically have good prices. You could give them a call.

http://www.blackanddecker.com/Where-to-buy.aspx

I drive through there 4 times a week actually. I may have to check it out.

 

[majorloser]

I bought a couple of real cheap-o models from Harbor Freight.
They also work great as speaker stands.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=436296&postcount=277

 

[abboudc]

Take two sawhorses, cut a two by four and screw it to the top of the sawhorse. You can then lay a board across the top and have a worktable, without fear of cutting into the metal sawhorses.

 

[lsiberian]

Take two sawhorses, cut a two by four and screw it to the top of the sawhorse. You can then lay a board across the top and have a worktable, without fear of cutting into the metal sawhorses.

Sounds like that wouldn't work for my situation. Besides a pair of good sawhorses costs as much as one of the workmate.

Nice suggestion though.

 

[Warpdrv]

I like my bowling alley sections I got from a place going under...

They make awesome workbench tops... but are really heavy, so not very portable...

 

[GO-NAD!]

I second CraigV's recommendation of the 550. I've had mine for several years; it's tough as nails and quite versatile. You can get smaller, cheaper models, but they just don't measure up.

Warpdrv, I'd love to have some bowling alley wood. That stuff is hard as a rock and does make a great bench top. But I don't think it'll be very practical for Isiberian's use.

 

[highfigh]

I second CraigV's recommendation of the 550. I've had mine for several years; it's tough as nails and quite versatile. You can get smaller, cheaper models, but they just don't measure up.

Warpdrv, I'd love to have some bowling alley wood. That stuff is hard as a rock and does make a great bench top. But I don't think it'll be very practical for Isiberian's use.

It's heavy but since the top won't be exceptionally large, it shouldn't be too bad. Many cities have a place that reconditions bowling alleys and they get this material from the ones that either closed or had new alleys put in. I got a piece that was about 6' long and 5' wide- it weighed about 150 lb. Since I plan to use part of it as the top of a smaller woodworking bench and the rest for the base of a wood lathe, neither piece is too heavy to be moved easily.

For low-weight work surfaces, look into what's called a torsion box. It's mostly air, very stiff (if built correctly) and can be made from plywood, MDF or whatever. A hollow core door is a torsion box but they are very thin-skinned. That doesn't mean a layer of MDF can't be fastened to one, though.